Man leads police on small chase after escaping from mental health facility

WHITEHALL, Wisconsin (WXOW) -- A Trempealeau county man led police on a short chase Friday night after he escaped from a mental health facility.

In a news release issued Sunday, police say Michael Leavitt, 31, escaped from the Trempealeau County Health Care Center just before 10:15 p.m. Friday by climbing out of a window.

Police say Leavitt was later spotted at a Kwik Trip station in Whitehall. He stole a vehicle, which was parked and left running in front of the store, and led police on what they call a "short, low-speed chase."

Trempealeau County deputies eventually pulled Leavitt over on Highway 53 south of Blair. He was taken into custody and later treated for a minor injury at an area hospital before being returned to the health center.